Just as every new season brings a fresh mix of stunning trend colors, every season’s starring shades tell a story. Here, we’ll take a deeper dive into the moods, moments, and movements that helped our trend forecasting team tell the tale of the 2023 Colormix^® Forecast in the four palettes and 40 colors of Terra.

With beautiful earth tones and a blend of subdued greens and blues, the Biome palette takes inspiration from nature and the concept of a world in which plants and people exist together in perfect harmony.

We’re seeing biophilic influences in design and architecture through an increasing preference for sustainable systems and products—things created using earth-friendly processes and designed to last a lifetime and diminish waste.

The colors of this palette call us to do our part, to usher in a new era driven by nature and the desire to serve, and preserve, the beauty of our planet. We seek to create a protopia, or an achievable future that is—if not absolutely perfect—at least a meaningful improvement on our present.

The Lore palette tells the story of the maker sensibility inherent in human nature. We are all called to create, and across the world and throughout history that call has been answered in countless ways.

Here, we celebrate creativity in all forms, and the lessons we learn from other cultures when we adopt and adapt ancient artforms. This palette’s rich color choices recall the vibrant fibers of intricate weavings, the paints of beautifully frescoed walls, hand-dyed yarns, and ornate pottery pieces.

The merging of cultures and ideals has shined a spotlight on inclusivity and “craftivism” in which makers use their talents to start conversations around social justice and mental health. This purposeful and highly personal approach to crafting succeeds in bringing global experiences a little closer to home.

The care economy gave rise to our third trend palette in the 2023 Colormix® Forecast. The colors of the Nexus palette exude an enveloping warmth, reminiscent of the compassion and collectives driving so many of our shared experiences in recent times.

Whether through self-care rituals, healthcare improvements, or being more conscious of our impact on the environment—there’s an ever-present need for attention and mindfulness in the treatment of ourselves and our spaces.

Ultimately, the intention is to create a sense of harmony and connection, and in color trends this is supported by earthy, mood-boosting colors. Even in a diverse array of tinted neutrals and sunbaked tones, there is unity to be sought and savored. This is home, not as a place, but a feeling—a comforting familiarity for any setting.

The Origin palette is inspired by the hybrid existence of our newly phygital world. This vibrant mix is a spin on retro favorites, a perfect balance of looking back and forging ahead—a collection of colors that seeks the middle ground between activity and rest, venturing out and staying in, then and now.

These are the colors of pure, personal joy. Residential and commercial spaces are experiencing an exuberant revival of tried-and-true classics and updated takes on time-honored aesthetics. Vividly colored minerals and geodes also inspired this palette: our planet’s special way of making something long-celebrated feel fresh and unexpected.

Our collective craving for balance has also inspired an emphasis on restful personal time. In this new era of stability and moderation, people are more focused on dividing time mindfully and intentionally, moving from excess to just the essentials, and cultivating a layered existence in which restoration means celebration.

Top image color: Homburg Gray SW 7622 (238-C7)